Partners,
It has been nearly six months since we convened for the “Alliances for Equity” Virtual Forum in October 2020. Time has flown. We learned so much from the robust dialogue that took place but, truthfully, the Forum was just the beginning of a greater collaboration. Since the Forum, we have worked closely with our partners in equity and resilience – many of whom you saw present – to develop the “Building Alliances for Equitable Resilience” resource. Through this resource, we hope to inspire the whole community to make equitable and resilient practices part of their day-to-day activities. You will find diverse perspectives, personal stories and resources to help you along that journey, regardless of whether you’re just starting out or firmly on your way to advancing equitable resilience.
We are so excited to share this piece of work with all of you, and we hope you help us in sharing it widely with your own networks, peers and colleagues.
Many thanks to all 26 of our contributing partners for helping us advance this critical dialogue.
The Resilient Nation Partnership Network Team
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Upcoming Events
Funding Opportunities
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Partner News
Register Now for the RNPN’s "Next Generation of Resilience" Student Showcase, April 28
Join the RNPN, students, and resilience professionals nationwide for the RNPN’s first-ever Next Generation of Resilience Student Showcase on Wednesday, April 28!
Four students will present their current work and research focused on the following areas:
- Promoting natural hazard mitigation actions.
- Advancing equitable resilience initiatives.
- Expanding capacity through partnerships.
As a participant, we welcome you to share feedback, ask questions and make connections. Following presentations, there will be dedicated time to network and discuss experiences, career paths and general questions across the resilience sector.
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Resilience 21: Building a Nation of Resilient Communities
Resilience 21 is a coalition of more than 50 of the nation’s leading practitioners working with cities and communities of all sizes and types to build resilience to present and growing shocks and stresses, with an emphasis on the natural hazards worsened by climate change, and the exacerbated impacts faced by marginalized communities. This Climate Event will feature a range of short presentations and discussion from Resilience Leadership from the Coalition to discuss their base-building model resilience efforts.
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EESI Podcast: The Climate Conversation
EESI is now breaking down climate, energy, and environment issues via podcasts! Check out the first ten episodes available on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, or on our website. Topics range from coastal resilience to how climate change is affecting the Arctic. You can also find condensed versions of some of our Congressional briefings to hear the key takeaways in just 20 minutes. We are always looking for climate solutions to feature on the podcast, so if you think your work might be a good fit, please contact our podcast co-host, Sydney.
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Natural Resources Defense Council Blog: The Promise of Climate Resilience and Biden’s American Jobs Plan
President Biden unveiled his American Jobs Plan, laying out a much-anticipated and bold vision for creating jobs, addressing inequity and inequality, and setting in motion one of the biggest single investments in the nation’s infrastructure of all time. And the administration committed to making climate resilience central to its vision.
Barriers to Flood Resilience in Lumberton, North Carolina
In Lumberton, North Carolina, which lies along the Lumber River, a wetter than usual February 2021 prompted a closer look at the various challenges faced on the path to flood resilience.
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U.S. Green Building Council: Guidance for Resilience Programs
USGBC just issued new guidance to assist owners and design professionals in their efforts to implement resilience strategies in buildings through the RELi rating system. The RELi Users Guide to Mandatory Requirements contains detailed submittal and documentation guidance for each of the requirements in the program to ensure project teams are informed and equipped to effectively plan, design, and develop resilient RELi projects.
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RiskFootprint™ and the New US Green Building Council RELi Users’ Guide
The RELi Users’ Guide provides detailed guidance to accelerate resilience. The new Users’ Guide from USGBC is located at this link.
Climate and Demographic Change in the Great Lakes Region: A Narrative Literature Review of Opportunities and Opportunity Barriers
With support from the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments (GLISA), American Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP) staff assembled this narrative literature review discussing “opportunities” that in-migration could bring to the region and “barriers” that could prevent institutions and residents from reaching those opportunities.
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PEER and HOMER Webinar: Determining Resilience of Your Hybrid Power Project
To gain financial and stakeholder support for a hybrid power project, it’s critical to prove value, reliability and resilience. But demonstrating project value from feasibility through completion is difficult. Learn more at this upcoming webinar on April 29 – PEER and HOMER: Determining the resilience of your hybrid system.
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Updates from the Union of Concerned Scientists
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Three Ways Climate Disclosure Helps Everyone
Why do we need climate risk disclosure? Read more about how climate risk disclosure benefits everyone and why the Climate Risk Disclosure Act is important.
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Roundup: Signs of Hope for Scientific Integrity and Public Health
As part of UCS’s quarterly roundups on scientific integrity, we have summarized some highlights on reinstating robust science within the federal government.
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Indigenous and Western Scientists and Knowledge Holders Partnering for the Public Good
A story of how indigenous and western spheres of culture and knowledge can work together for the greater good.
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FEMA's Protect Your Property Brochures Can Provide the Information You Need to Prepare for the 2021 Hurricane Season
The Protect Your Property series of brochures are intended to help homeowners and renters take steps to prepare for and reduce damage from a number of natural hazard events, including storm surge, severe winds, coastal erosion and more. The brochures provide potential mitigation actions inside and outside the home, with connections to additional resources.
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NFPA Launches Major Effort to Address Wildfires
In March, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced Outthink Wildfire™, a comprehensive strategy to address America’s wildfire crisis that lays out five policy changes that must occur at all levels of government to end the destruction of communities from wildfire in the U.S.
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Resilient MA Action Team's Climate Resilience Design Standards Tool
The Resilient MA Action Team's Climate Resilience Design Standards and Guidelines project developed guidance for state-funded projects to enhance how the commonwealth assesses climate resilience as part of its capital planning process. This project is implementing priority actions from the State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan. The beta Climate Resilience Design Standards Tool is being initially piloted by state agencies, and will provide state-funded projects:
- A preliminary climate change exposure and risk rating.
- Recommended climate resilience design standards for projects with physical assets.
- Guidelines with best practices to support implementation.
The project deliverables are grounded in scientific methodology using available climate science data for Massachusetts, and will be enhanced over time to incorporate new science, additional or changing climate hazards, and ongoing stakeholder feedback.
ARISE-US Network: How SMEs Build Resilience
The ARISE-US Network (Private Sector Alliance for Resilient Societies, led by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction [UNDRR]) is pleased to announce the launch of a report aimed at supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) focused on reducing disaster risk and increasing resilience. The report is informed by a global survey conducted by UNDRR and facilitated by the ARISE global network, along with a literature review of available evidence related to building the resilience of SMEs to disasters.
SMEs are the bedrock of global, national and local markets. When disaster strikes, SMEs are hit harder, suffer longer and are slower to recover than larger businesses.
This report provides guidance on how to build the resilience of SMEs, enabling them to be sustainable and competitive in the long run by reducing disaster risks. The report can be read here.
To learn more and engage with ARISE-US, visit: https://www.ariseglobalnetwork.org. For any questions, contact Peter Williams (ARISE-US Chair) at rpwilliams1958@gmail.com.
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Chattanooga Installs Automated High Water Warning System
The greatest cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. is flash flooding; about half of those drownings are vehicle-related. Public Works staff and emergency responders manually place road closure barricades and signage at inundated crossings, often after business hours and after the roadway is flooded.
Through Safeware, the city of Chattanooga used U.S. Communities Contract #4400008468 to procure a High Sierra automated high water warning system with flashers and gates, along with access to Contrail OneRain. The system provides real-time data collection, analysis and management, and advanced alarm and notification.
Automation provides benefits such as protection of motorized citizens and first responders. This system will give the city the ability to gather water level data during events, which aids in mitigation planning, attaining grants, updating impact statements, better flood forecasting and better utilization of city resources.
The first installation went live in early 2021. Chattanooga plans to install several more around the city. For more information, contact Maria Price, Engineering Manager, Public Works Department, city of Chattanooga, at mprice@chattanooga.gov.
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Upcoming Sustainable Solutions Lab Webinars
SSL Lunch & Learn Series — Climate Justice Partnerships: Part 3
May 5, 2021 12-1 p.m. ET
Join us for a discussion with representatives from Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) and CNT, who will share about their collaboration on a water and health study in the Little Village neighborhood, an environmental justice community.
Climate Emergency Preparedness: Art x Cultural Resilience
May 18, 2021 4-5:30 p.m. ET
When facing climate change, the focus is often placed on the built environment without accounting for underlying cultural causes. This event will explore the wisdom and beauty of different cultures and artistic expression in the development of resilient and sustainable communities.
SSL Lunch & Learn Series — Climate Justice Partnerships: Part 4
May 26, 2021 12-1 p.m. ET
The purpose of the Climate Justice Partnership series is to learn from successful collaborations between community organizations and their partners that have produced groundbreaking projects designed with meaningful participation from those affected by climate change impacts.
The First Reports and Research Briefs in the Mitigation Matters Series Are Now Available!
These publications center on indigenous knowledge, participatory decision-making, and mitigation efforts by individuals.
The report series, developed in partnership with FEMA, features innovative natural hazards research delivered in both short research reports, as well as condensed, two-page research briefs. The series will focus on a range of topics that advance the social, behavioral, and economic aspects of mitigation.
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NYC Buildings: Glazing Systems for Dry Floodproofing – Construction Code Requirements
Flood-resistant glazing systems used for floodproofing non-residential buildings in Special Flood Hazard Areas must meet established acceptance criteria (i.e., ANSI 2510). They must be substantially impermeable and resist loading and impact requirements.
Some manufacturers produce glazing (window) systems with laminated glass, seals and frames designed to resist flood loads while meeting occupant needs for natural light. These window systems (sometimes called submarine or aquarium glass) are passive dry floodproofing measures because installing flood shields is not required when flooding is anticipated. Read more in FEMA’s Requirements for the Design and Certification of Dry Floodproofed Non-Residential and Mixed-Use Buildings.
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